Well flow apparatus



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March 3, 1953 v. A. KAGAY 2,630,073

WELL FLOW APPARATUS Filed Nov. 12, 1947 2 SHEETS- SHEET z Suma/Mm Vesta! l). 150g QH Patented Mar. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES; PATENT OFFICE 2,630,073 WELL FLOW APPARATUS Vestal A. Kagay, Dallas, Tex. Application November 12, 1947, Serial No, 785,447

(Cl. d-232) l()` Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in Well flow apparatus'.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for controlling the admission of a lifting fluid, such as gas, into `a liduid column within a well tubing or conductor for lifting or raising the liquid to the surface, said apparatus being particularly adapted for use as an inter- Initter to intermittently admit the lifting gas at predetermined intervals in accordance with particular well conditions.

Various types of intermitter flow devices, such are disclosed in .the patents to Walton No. 2,385,316 and 2,391,605 and to Peters No. 2,342,301, employ a main valve which controls the admission of the lifting Amedium or gas into the `well conductor, with `the main valve being controlled in its operation by a pilot valve means. In this type of device, the pilot valve is usually actuated solely by the pressure of the liftingmedium or gas whereby when 'the pressure of such medium reaches a predeterminedV point, the pilot is actuateo'l to openthe main valve. The main valve controls flow of the `lifting medium into the well conductor through Van inlet port or opening and obviously the size ofthe fiow'deviceand itsvarious elements'such as itsadmissioniport,are=restricted by the sizeof the well bore; Vin other words, the device `cannot be iincreased in size beyond the physicallimitationof the bore. Thus, the sizeor ofthe admissionportbr openingoi .a flow device of this character has its limitations with the result thatthekvolume of lifting `gas which may be admitteduponr opening ofthe main valve of the device is restricted, as Idetermined by the area or size of saidaclmission or inlet port. `.es weils are drilled todeeper depthaa greater volurne of liftino" gas is necessarily desirableupon each operation ofthe ilow apparatusbutlbecause itis not practical to increasefthefsize ofthe inlet port or other elements :ofthefnow device beyond certain limits, the capacity of saiddevice is;in sniiicient. .'Attemptshavebeen made to employ a series of intermitterflow devices-but the diflicnlty of properly-adjustingthe devices to operate simultaneously has made their use an impractical solution to the problem.

It is one object ofthe present invention to provide an improved ow:icontrolzfapparatus which will admit a sunlcient: or l desired volume of: the lifting medium .or gas into thefgwell conductor uponeach operation ofl theapparatus, whereby sunicient: gas forilifting:01%:rais-ing;theliquidcolumn withinsaidiconductots alllle@ v l' An importantnbiectiottheenrention riSztOl-Pro- 2 vide an improved'ilow control apparatus, wherein tivo or more power or main valve units which control the admission of lifting fluid into a well conductor are actuated by a single pilot valve mechanism, whereby simultaneous operation of the main valve units is accomplished; more or less of said main valve units being employed in accordance with the particular volume of lifting fluid which is required to raise the well liquid within the conductor.

`Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved well flow apparatus, wherein a plurality of main valve units are connected in the well conductor for controlling the admission of a lifting iluid into sea-id conductor with each unit moulding a pressureeactuated main valve; said apparatus also having a `single pilot valve unit for controlling the application of pressure to the pressure-actuated `valves of the main valve.` units, whereby when said pilot is actuated, the main valve units are simultaneoiis'ly'operated as a single device to aid-init liftingfiuid to ythe well conductor.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus, of the character described, wherein a single pilot valvecontrcls the operationv of a' plurality of main valve units and wherein said pilot valveis actuated solely in accordance with the pressure of -the lifting iluid, whereby when said ,pressure reaches a predeterminedwlpoint 4theinain valve units are operated toadmit said `lifting into a Well conductor.

A `still further object of the invention. is to provide an apparatus, of the character described, which is `so constructed thatany desired or required number of `main valve units may be readily connected to the singlepilot control valve unit, whereby the apparatus 'Arnay be readily adapted to lvarying welll conditions, `which may occur in different production areas without any mate `ial change `inthe construction'of said apparatus.

4The construction designed to carry out the inventicnewill hereinafter described together with other` featnreslof theV invention.

`The invention will be more readily understood nomia-reading of the following specincation and by reference {,to the accompanying drawing, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and` wherein:

rFigure l is an elevationlof an apparatus, con structed in accordancewjith the invention, and illustrating the saine .mounted on a well. com Clutter, o

`ligure 2 is anelevationci the apparatus taken at a right yangle to the` parts as shown in Figure l,

Figure 3 isatransverse, vertical, sectional View of the pilot valve and one of the main valve units,

Figure Li is an enlarged, horizontal, cross-sec tional view, taken on the line ll-l of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged, horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line Emil oi Figure In the drawings, the numeral l@ designates a well conductor or tubing which extends axially through the usual well casing ll. As is well known the well uids enter the lower end of the tubing and flow upwardly therethrough, the annular space between the tubing and casing being packed off near its lower end by a suitable packer (not shown). The well liquids rise upwardly within the well tubing to a normal level in ac cordance with the particular well conditions and the improved well now apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, is arranged to control the admission of a lifting fluid,

such as gas or air, from the annular space outside of the tubing id and into said tubing. The admission of the lifting fluid will function to raise or lift the well liquids within the conductor or tubing to the surface in the usual manner.

The flow apparatus includes a pilot valve unit e A which is coupled to the upper end of a main valve unit B. The valve unit E has communication through a port i2 with the well tubing and disposed below the unit B isA a second main valve unit C which communicates with the tubing through an inlet port i3. Each of the units B and C, as will be explained, function to control the admission of the lifting iiuid which is present in the annular space between the casing and the tubing, into the interior of the tubing and both of these units are controlled in their operation by the pilot valve unit A. Normally the main valve units B and C are in closed position with no ow occurring into the tubing lli. When the pressure within the annular space outside oi the tubing lll exceeds a predetermined amount, the pilot Valve unit A is actuated to permit the application of pressure to the main valve unit B through a passage lli which is mounted within a coupling l5 connecting the units A and B; pressure is also applied through a pressure line le to the lower main valve unit C. Thus, when the pilot valve unit A operates, pressure is directed to the units B and C to permit now through the inlet ports l2 and i3. It will be evident that since both control units B and C are actuated by the pilot valve, actuation of said units will be simultaneous.

Although two main valve units are illustrated in the drawing, it is obvious that any desired number of such units may be mounted in series with all of said units being controlled by the single pilot valve unit A. The number of units B and C which are employed is dependent upon the Volume of lifting fluid which is to be intro= duced into the tubing upon one operation for obviously a greater or lesser number of units will provide a greater or lesser number of ports with a resultant increase or decrease in inlet area. Additional main Valve units may be operated by the single pilot by merely connecting additional pressure lines to the pressure line le.

The particular type or pilot valve unit, as well as the particular construction of the main valve units is subject to some variation. So long asthe units are adapted to be pressure-actuated, the purposes of the present invention rnay be accomplished. In Figures 3 to 5 one type of construction adaptable for the purpose is illustrated. As shown in these iigures, the pilot valve unit A includes an. outer cylindrical casing 2e which has its upper end closed by a suitable cap 2l. An erpansible bellows 22 has its Lipper end secured to a iianged collar 23 which is interposed between the upper end of the casing and the cap member. The lower end or" the bellows is secured to the stern Z of a pilot valve 25. The pilot valve is adapted to engage a Valve seat 26 and is normally urged toward said seat by a coil spring 2'3 which has its lower end resting upon adjusting nuts 23 on the stern, with its upper end engaged beneath an internal flange provided in the lower end of a protective sleeve Sec which surrounds the bellows 22. Normally the bellows tends to ex-r pand so that the force thereof, plus the force of the spring 2l urges the pilot valve 25 to a seated position.

A plurality of radial ports extend through the wall of the casing 2li whereby the pressure or the lli-ting fluid in the annular space outside of the tubing maf.r enter the interior of the casing 2@ and act upon the bellows 22E, such pressure tending to collapse the bellows. When the pres-- sure of the lifting fluid acting upon the bellows reaches a predetermined point, sufficient to overcome the inherent resiliency oi the bellows plus the pressure of the spring il, the bellows is urged toward a collapsed position, whereby the pilot valve 2e is unseated to open the axial port 26a in the valve seat The valve seat is threaded into the coupling le which connects the casing 2t of the pilot valve unit A to the unit B and the axial opening 26a in said valve seat is in communication with the axial passage lli of said coupling. Thus, when the pilot valve is unseated the pressure of the lifting fluid is admitted into the passage Ill of the coupling.

The main valve units B and C have been illustrated as comprising an cuter housing which is formed of an upper tubular section 3l connected to a lower tubular section 32 by a coupling 33. Secured to the lower section 32 is a valve cage 34 having an inlet tube 35 threaded onto its lower end. A power bellows 55 has its lower end 'secured to an axial extension 33a formed on the coupling 33 while its upper end is fastened to a circular disk or head member 31. rEhe head 3l is formed with a depending shank 38 which eX- tends axially through the power bellows and which has its lower portion reduced as indicated at 35i. This lower reduced portion is hexagonal in cross-section and extends through an yrial bore di), circular in cross-section, in the coupling 33. The extreme lower end of the reduced portion 39 of the slianl: 3S is adapted to engage the upper end of a fluted valve stern di. The valve stern extends through a bore di: within the upper end of the valve cage 34 and has a valve member i3 integral with its lower end, said member being adapted to engage a valve seat lil provided within the cage. The upper end of the iluted valve stern di is movable within the tubular section 32 and the bore of said section has communication through a radial port [i5 with the inlet port l2 of the tubing.

It will be evident that when the pilot valve 2E is open, the pressure of the lifting uid is admitted to the upper end of the unit B and acts upon the power bellows 36. This power bellows is normally expanded which holds the shank 38 in a raised position, whereby the lifting fluid pressure acting through the inlet tube 35 and against the lower end of the main valve member d3 holds said main valve member seated. Admission of presaeeaove terior of said conductor and also having a main valve for controlling iiow through said passage, whereby when the main valves of said units are open flow of pressure fluid from exteriorly of the conductor into the interior thereof may occur, pressure-responsive means connected to each main valve and normally holding said valve closed and opening said valve when pressure is applied thereto, means for conducting the pressure uid which is present exteriorly of the conductor to the pressure-responsive means of each main valve of the main valve units, whereby this pressure fluid is utilized to actuate the main valves, and a single control means disposed in the conducting means for controlling the application of the pressure huid to the pressure-responsive means of the main valve units, whereby actuation of said control means results in a simultaneous operation of said main valve units.

4. A well flow apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the single control means is a pilot valve `wllich is actuated when the pressure of the fluid exteriorly of the conductor reaches a predetermined point.

5. The rcombination with a well liquid conductor which extends axially through a well bore, wherein a pressure lifting fluid is present in said bore exteriorly of the conductor, of a flow apparatus including, a plurality of pressure-actuated valve units carried by the conductor for controlling the admission of the lifting fluid into said conductor, and a single pressure actuated control means carried by the conductor in a position near the main valve units operatively connected with all of said valves for controlling the operation thereof, whereby when the control means is actuated the valve units are simultaneously operated to admit the lifting fluid into the conductor to raise the well liquids therein.

6. The combination as set forth in claim wherein the single control means is a pilot valve which is actuated by the pressure of the lifting iiuid when said fluid reaches a predetermined pressure.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 5, wherein each Valve unit is pressure-actuated and also wherein the single control means controls the application of pressure to said units, whereby actuation of the control means permits pressure to be simultaneously applied to all valve units.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 5, wherein each valve unit has a pressure-responsive operating member, with means for conducting the pressure of the lifting fluid to said member to operate the same, and also wherein the single control means controls the application of pressure to the pressure-responsive means of the valve units, said control means also being responsive to the pressure of the lifting iiuid, whereby when said lifting iiuid pressure reaches a predetermined point, said control means is actuated to permit the application of said pressure to the pressure-responsive operating members of the `Valve units to simultaneously operate said units and admit a ilow of the lifting nuid into the well conductor.

9. A well flow apparatus including, a well conductor which extends axially within a well bore, a pair of main valve units connected in said conductor, each unit having a flow passage establishing communication between the exterior and interior of said conductor and also having a main valve for Controlling flow through said passage, whereby when the main valves of said units are open now ol pressure fluid from exteriorly of the conductor into the interior thereof may occur, each valve having operating means responsive to pressure exteriorly oi' the conductor for opening the Valve, and a single pressure-actuated pilot valve assembly' forming part oi' one of the main valve units and adapted to be actuated by the pressure exteriorly of the conductor, said pilot valve assembly being operatively connected to said main valve unit, a pressure line extending from the pilot valve assembly to the other main valve unit for controlling the operation of said second main valve unit, and means forming part of the pilot valve assembly and responsive to the pressure of the fluid exteriorly of the conductor for actuating the pilot valve when the pressure of said fluid reaches avpredeterinined point, whereby the main Valve units are finally opened to admit pressure huid into the main conductor through the main valve units upon actuation of the pilot valve assembly.

1U. A well flow apparatus including, a well conductor which extends axially within a well bore, a pair of main valve units connected in said conductor, each unit having a now passage establishing communication between the exterior and interior of said conductor and also having a main valve for controlling flow through said passage, whereby when the main valves of said units are open flow of pressure fluid from exteriorly of the conductor into the interior thereof may occur, pressure-responsive means connected to each main valve, rneans for conducting a pressure to said pressure responsive means which is normally holding said valve closed and which opens the valve when pressure is applied thereto, and a single control means disposed in the conducting means and actuated by the pressure of the fluid exteriorly of the conductor for controlling the application of pressure through the conducting means to the pressure-responsive means of the main valve units, whereby actuation of the singe control means results in a simultaneous opening of the main valves of the main valve units to permit a flow of pressure fluid through the passages of the main valve units and into the interior of the well conductor.

VESTAL A. KAGAY.

REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

'UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,114,978 Gamble Get. 27, 1914 2,142,483 Crites Jan. 3, 1939 2,278,532 Crickmer Apr. '7, 1942 2,339,487 King Jan. 18, 1944 2,342,301l Peters Feb. 22, 1944 2,385,315 Walton Sept. 18, 1945 2,391,685 Walton Dec. 25, 1945 2,465,069 Carlisle Mar. 22, 194,9

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Y Date 11,275 Great Britain May '7, 1914 

